The Chicago Stars have hired former United States women's national team coach Vlatko Andonovski as the team's new chief soccer officer, beating out several other NWSL teams. Andonovski recently departed from the Kansas City Current on Sept. 7.

"I get excited with projects, and Chicago will very much be a project," Andonovski told ESPN. He will be the highest-ranking employee on Chicago's technical staff, which has been gutted in recent months. The hire is a coup for a Chicago team that sits in last place in the NWSL standings and could finish there for the second straight season.

Andonovski said he believes that by "next year, we're competing." His next tasks are appointing a technical director and head coach. Chicago Stars president Karen Leetzow previously worked with Andonovski at U.S. Soccer. Leetzow told ESPN she "started noodling a strategy" of hiring other top professionals connected to Andonovski. The Stars hired Kate Cohen as interim technical consultant and Garga Caserta as interim director of high performance.

Andonovski said he spoke with six different NWSL teams about similar roles. He said Chicago stood out for several reasons, including a roster with forwards Mallory Swanson and Jordyn Huitema, midfielder Julia Grosso, and defender Sam Staab.